At a glance

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At a glance

Two weeks exploring the best that Sri Lanka has to offer, the perfect family destination

Flights usually direct with Sri Lankan Airlines.

Transport minibus, jeep and bicycle

Two weeks exploring the best that Sri Lanka has to offer, the perfect family destination

Sri Lanka has an amazing array of mesmerising sites to visit. From the ancient cave temples of Dambulla to the world famous Temple of the Tooth, there is something to fascinate everyone. We climb to the top of the Lions Rock Fortress in Sigiriya, take a game drive to see elephants in their natural habitat and visit Kandy which is the cultural hub of Sri Lanka. After exploring the tea plantations in the cool highlands we travel to Yala National Park where we take a game drive in search of leopard! Finally we head to the idyllic palm-fringed beaches of the south coast, the perfect end to a varied and fun holiday.

Itinerary

We arrive in the afternoon at Colombo's Katunayake Airport and transfer to our hotel at Chilaw on the coast approximately an hour and a half north of the airport. Those not flying with the group will join us at the hotel.
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3Day 3To Sigiriya, site of the Lions Rock Fortress; relax by pool.

Today we drive out to Sigiriya. This town is famous for the impressive 5th century rock fortress, which rises 600 feet from the plains and overlooks the surrounding countryside, giving far reaching magnificent views. The afternoon is free to relax at the hotel, explore the town or enjoy a dip in the pool.See more images and videos

4Day 4Climb to the top of Lions Rock and cycle through local villages.

Sigiriya is our base for the next two days. Once used as a safe haven from invaders, the route to the top is up a series of steep steps and gangways. From the base, where a moat surrounds impressive water gardens, we ascend 200m, passing an overhanging rock under which superb portraits of native maidens holding flowers and temple offerings still adorn the rock wall. Crowning the flat summit of the rock are extensive remains of the King's Summer Palace from where there are breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. The descent however is much easier and will take a lot less time. Please make sure that your children are accompanied at all times as there are some steep drops on this climb. It is of course optional and you may not wish to climb to the top of the fortress itself. In the afternoon we include the opportunity to cycle slowly through local villages and soak up the atmosphere, which is usually a great experience for everyone.See more images and videos

5Day 5Visit ancient Polonnaruwa. Optional game drive

After breakfast we take a short drive to, the 10th century capital of Sri Lanka, Polonnaruwa. This is an optional activity and if you do not wish to visit this site then the morning is free.Here there are many Buddhist relics and ruins dating from a thousand years ago when Sinhalese culture reached its zenith. Polonnaruwa flourished in the 12th century after the decision was made to move the capital from Anuradhapura so it was further away from the incursions from southern India. In the afternoon there is an optional game drive to see elephants in their natural habitat.

6Day 6Visit the famous cave temples at Dambulla; explore a spice garden; drive to Kandy.

Today we visit the magnificent Cave Temple at Dambulla, for some, the most impressive sight in Sri Lanka. There are colourful, and very well preserved, paintings and statues of the Buddha inside the caves, which date back to the 1st century BC. After lunch we stop at a spice garden near Matale where you and your children can see various spices and herbs growing and there is a chance to stock up on massage oils, spices and Ayurvedic medicines. We then drive to Kandy.See more images and videos

7Day 7Visit the gem museum, Royal Botanical Gardens and see the Temple of the Tooth.

Kandy is a picturesque hill town situated on a lake and home to Temple of the Tooth, Sri Lanka's most important Buddhist relic. We begin with a visit to the temple during the ceremony. The Tooth of Buddha, was taken from the funeral pyre in 543 BC and only found its way to Sri Lanka in the 4th century AD. There are normally hundreds of worshippers who visit the temple each day and it is open to the public. Then we visit a gem museum/shop where you can see the results from the traditional methods of gem extraction.The rest of the day is free to wander round Kandy, by the lake or take a taxi up to the surrounding hills for wonderful views over the town.

8Day 8Visit a tea plantation in Nurawa Eliya and stay in the beautiful highlands.

Today we make the spectacular drive through tea plantation districts to Nurawa Eliya. This was the favourite hill station during the British-colonial era and, situated in the cool highland air at 1890m, has a very British feel to it. Known locally as 'Little England' it is dotted with British style houses, hotels and a racecourse. The area is famous for its high quality tea and we visit a working plantation later in the day. We stay in the hill country overnight at Bandarrawela.See more images and videos

9Day 9Drive to Yala National Park via Ella gap.

Today we continue on to Ella Gap where we have spectacular views of the coastal plain nearly 1,000m below. Almost the whole of the southern part of the island is in view and on a particularly clear day the shimmering silver of the ocean is visible. The weather is normally clear in the mornings, however, as in any mountainous area, bad weather does sometimes occur which will obviously limit the view. We then head south out of the hills to Kataragama down on the plains, which is our base for visiting Yala National Park. After lunch we will drive to the park for a game drive; Yala is best known for its elephants but we may also see deer, monkeys, buffalo and a wide range of bird life. If you are lucky you may also see a leopard as Yala has one of the highest concentrations of leopards in the world (Please note that sometimes the sanctuary is closed for 4-6 weeks from September to October allowing the park authorities to check the animals. We therefore go to an alternative area close by, usually the Udawalawe National Park).

10Day 10Morning game drive followed by 3 nights at a beach to relax or explore the area.

Today we leave for the coast with its beautiful palm fringed bays. On the way we stop at Tangalle and walk through a rice field to a village where you can try some unusual local delicacies. You will see daily life and may even take part in some traditional Sri Lankan sports activities. We then get back to our bus in little tractors used by the farmers. We will have lunch (optional) at a house built by Exodus for Tsunami victims; this may well be one of the best curries of your trip! We will arrive at Ahangama in the afternoon and the rest of your time here is free with a chance to swim, relax on the beach or by the pool and do any one of numerous optional activities that your leader can organise for you.See more images and videos

We set off early today and drive along the coastal road to the historic port of Galle. Dating back to the 17th century and now a world heritage site we have a short visit of the Galle Fort. We then follow the coast for the drive to Colombo, visiting a turtle hatchery on the way. We reach Colombo in the late afternoon and check into our hotel.See more images and videos

14Day 14Fly to London

We have a relaxed breakfast before those flying on the group flight transfer to the airport for an early afternoon flight. Arrangements for those not flying with the group ends after check out.
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Your images

Family group

Family group holidays that you and your family can enjoy together. These trips are active, adventurous and provide the perfect blend of exploration and sociability.

Activity level

You are reasonably fit, enjoy the outdoors and are looking for some exercise. Some previous experience is preferable for activity based trips.

What's included

What's included

All breakfasts

All accommodation (see below)

All transport and listed activities

Tour leader throughout

Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)

What's not included

Travel insurance

Single accommodation (available on request)

Visas or vaccinations

Accommodation details

Hotels

You will spend 12 nights in hotels all with en-suite facilities. The hotel at Sigiriya, where you will be spending 3 nights is surrounded by lush jungle and commands stunning views of the magnificent rock fortress. The hotel features a swimming pool and a luxury sauna.

Single rooms are available for a supplement from £340.

Essential info

Vaccinations and Visa
A visa (Electronic Travel Authorisation) is required if you are British and for most other nationalities. If you do not hold a British passport, please check the visa requirements with your local Sri Lankan Embassy or the ETA website www.eta.gov.lk. Passengers should also be aware of local laws and customs in Sri Lanka (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/sri-lanka/local-laws-and-customs). The mistreatment of Buddhist images and artefacts is an offence; please note that people have been refused entry to Sri Lanka because of visible tattoos of Buddha.
There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Tetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. The risk of malaria is slight but you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Holiday style

Although this is not a particularly demanding trip, one or two of the drives are long (up to five to six hours) and are on windy mountain roads that can be affected by the rains, which occasionally can cause short delays. The longer drives are broken up with many chances to stop for a view or a refreshing drink. Temperatures can be hot on the plains and chilly in the hills, but because we use an air-conditioned bus, this is not normally a problem.

Eating & drinking

Breakfast is included throughout. Lunch and dinner is not included. We suggest allowing about GBP15 (USD25) p/p per day for meals.

Trip notes

Download the detailed trip notes for everything you could possibly want
to know about this trip, including detailed itinerary and full kit list.

Weather & seasonality

Sri Lanka has a tropical climate with two distinct wet seasons or monsoons. The SW monsoon brings rain to that area of the island between May and August. The NE monsoon takes place from October to January and only really affects the north and east coastal regions. Generally, you should expect rain at some time but with plenty of sunshine. On the plains, day and night time temperatures are warm to hot with Colombo having an average daytime temperature of 30ºC. The temperatures drop as we go higher into the hills and especially at Nuwara Eliya and Bandarrawella where daytime temperatures are between 10 - 25ºC and night time temperatures will be chilly (about 10ºC minimum) and a warmish jacket will be needed.

Reviews & community

We had an amazing time on this trip; all of the members of our family- 2 adults and 3 children aged 16, 14 and 12 enjoyed it hugely. It was a great mix of culture, wildlife and beaches! Sri Lanka is a gorgeous island, the people are incredibly friendly and welcoming, and the food was fantastic- we especially enjoyed the food made by local families, which we lucky enough to try several times

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Climbing the rock fortress at Sigiriya was a definite highlight, as was coming pretty much face to face with countless elephants on the game drive near Polonnaruwa. The kindness of the people we met was definitely inspirational.

What did you think of your group leader?

Absolutely brilliant -hugely enthusiastic, friendly, cheerful and informative. Neelaka made everyone feel immediately at ease, and took care of all of the little details for us. We couldn't have asked for a better group leader.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

If you can afford the trip, don't hesitate to go!!

It is definitely worth taking up the guide's offer to set up a "kitty" to cover tips for all of the meals and hotel staff, and for buying bottles of water every day - this makes life a lot easier.

Although it is tempting to just sit by the pool (or the beach towards the end of the trip) when there is any free time, we would recommend fitting in as many of the optional activities that you can. It is also easy to organise your own activities - at Ahangama, we organised a group trip by tuk tuk down the coast to Weligama, and had a superb afternoon of surfing (or trying to surf!).

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you to the other members of the group- we had a great time on holiday with you.

Loved everything about the trip- if we were to add one thing, we would have enjoyed trekking.

Such an amazing holiday from start to finish. Was an excellent opportunity for our us and our son to experience the culture of this wonderful country with like minded families.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Without a doubt, it was the opportunity to bathe one of the elephants in the river. Such majestic creatures.

What did you think of your group leader?

Wasanta was magnificent. A very knowledgeable and likeable man with a willing to please. He made things happen for the group and maintained a 'happy camp'!!

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

There is a lot of time spent on the coach as there is so much to see and this may be an issue for younger travellers especially. Also a few roads are very 'winding' and if you do not travel well it would be most advisable to obtain a travel sickness solution that works for you. Also invest in decent mosquito repellent - we did and did not receive 1 bite!! Be prepared for visiting the temples with appropriate clothing to cover shoulders and knees, this applies to everyone, even children, and remember not to pose in front of Buddha.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Would just like to thank everyone on our trip for making it a happy and memorable one.

This is a full on trip where you feel like you've had a real taste of Sri Lanka. It ticks all the boxes - wildlife, adventure, culture, food, local life and makes you fall in love with a very beautiful country.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

We thought that cycling around the locality of Sigiraya rock one day and then climbing up it the next was phenomenal. It built everything up and fired the imagination once we were on top of the rock, taking in the tremendous views.
We were lucky enough to be in Kandy when the Esala Perahera was on and our wonderful guide, Sujee, arranged seats for us to watch. The significance of this ceremony to the Sri Lankan people and their mass involvement was inspiring.
Visiting the spice garden and seeing all the things green and growing that are bottled and dried in the kitchen cupboard at home. The oils and remedies are wonderful too.

What did you think of your group leader?

Sujee, our group leader, was brilliant. He was full of information, avidly promoted responsible tourism and was always available if we needed anything - or had more questions. He was wonderfully flexible too - helping our group to arrange alternative trips to the usual optional ones. We all loved how he bought us unusual fruits etc from the roadside for us all to try. He was greatly complemented by Nisha, who looked after us excellently too, and Gama, our very, very skilful and safe driver.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Water is provided on the bus so you don't need water bottles. Take lots and lots of high factor sun cream and insect repellent. Hotel standards way exceeded our expectations - so no 'roughing' it! The trip is quite exhausting with lots of travelling so the time on the beach at the end is much appreciated. Opportunities to obtain cash from ATMs are identified by the guide so you can plan withdrawals.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

This was a wonderful trip and we were very lucky that our group got on together so well. It has made me want to visit Sri Lanka again as it was such a great experience.

I think back and now see that I have done it all...from guiding Japanese cultural tourists across South East Asia to a camping holiday sales floor, from managing website, to marketing travel online and offline. What's left? I guess, I got some travelling to do. I am off....

Questions about your trip

Pick your question

What is the standard of hotels like in Sri Lanka?

All hotels have en suite bathrooms and towels are always provided as well. The standard and décor depends on whether it is “comfortable”, “standard” or “basic” hotel but they are all perfectly fine. The “basic” ones may not have internet access or 24hour reception but they will feel more authentic and local!

Charlotte Taylor - Customer Operations

Any shopping tips for Sri Lanka?

Try the local markets – big and perfect for gift shopping. But be careful – you will get approached by friendly, English speaking people, who will tell you that they will get you a good deal if you go to a particular stall. Well, it’s not quite true, you will still get overcharged (and the friendly local will get his commission). I suggest to shop around and you will find some good deals yourself!

Charlotte Taylor - Customer Operations

What do I do about money and what are local costs like in Sri Lanka?

In main towns, it is possible to withdraw money from an ATM. It is also possible to exchange Sterling and US Dollars in local exchange offices. I would suggest to take some GBP in cash and change most of it (if not all) at the airport in Colombo (in the arrivals hall). It is absolutely safe to carry cash around with you but you can also leave your passport and excess cash in a safe in your hotel room. Both food and drink prices are reasonable. I was on AIL in September 2008 and I spent £250.00 for food, drinks, gift shopping and tips.

Gabriela Krizanova - Sales

What kind of food should I expect around the Indian subcontinent?

There is a real mix available and you won't be disappointed! The local cuisine is predominantly vegetarian, with lots of rice. You can enjoy everything from traditional spicy curries to stalls selling tasty sweets and deserts and even right the way to western style grub, if it all gets a bit too much. Vegetarians and 'non-spicy' food people are easily catered for, and the leader will make sure a wide range of dishes are ordered for each meal.

Charlotte Taylor - Customer Operations

Sri Lanka articles

Staff member Gabriela Krizanova travelled out to Sri Lanka with Exodus and you can read her article here to get a personal viewpoint of the country

Exodus staff - expertise on hand to help

All the staff at Exodus share a passion for adventure travel, and are always happy to answer any questions you may have. You can find an expert for the area you are interested in here and can contact them to get further information. If you don't see your specific country listed, please email customerops@exodus.co.uk and they will get the answers you need!

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Dates & prices

Flight Inclusive prices include return flights from a London airport & transfers at your destination. If you wish to book your own flights independently, then please select the ‘Excluding Flights’ tab above. For more information on group flights & transfers, please see Trip Notes

If you are keen to end your holiday on a very relaxed note we can arrange a visit to the Maldives, just 1 hour flying time from Colombo. For more details on this particular extension please go to page 3 of the Trip Notes. Alternatively, you can call one of our Sales team, who will be happy to assist you.

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